Welcome to the AC Tropical Fish aquarium forum. Our aquarium forum is the place to discuss any aquarium related issue in a friendly environment. Our aquarium forum welcomes aquarists of all levels from beginners to experts. Please ask a question in the how to section of our forum or read the FAQ section if you have any questions. register to and become a part of our friendly aquarium forum community today.

The Aqueon Quiet flow is very strange and didnt know if anyone has good or bad opinions on this model. THe biological filtration is just the plastis pillars that dont seem to be very effective. Should I take this back and get something different?

If I were you I would probably take it back just because you want 40 gallons worth of filtration on that tank amd that will only make 30. You can put the second filter on the other end of the tank to avoid dead spots since it is long. Another aquaclear filter would be great because there are no cartidges to wear out, just really the foam inserts and those last a very long time.

If concerned about price difference buy the new filter online, way cheaper.

Also, bio-balls are very poor compared to ceramic noodles (vastly more area for bacteria growth.) Get a filter that can hold the ceramic noodles and phase out the bio-balls also with ceramic noodles.

Knowledge is fun(damental)

A 75 gal with eight Discus, fake plants, and a lot of wood also with sand substrate. Clean up crew is down to just two Sterba's Corys. Filters: continuous new water flow; canister w/UV, in-tank algae scrubber!! Finally, junked the nitrate removal unit from hell.

I agree... I would take the aqueon quiet flow back. I had one on my 55g. there just is not enough bio filtration to them. Get another AquaClear but as others have said get twice the filtration. Like the AC50.

As best I understand a good rule of thumb is to half the manufactures spec on the GPH rating to accommodate for the filter media. You also want a filter that is big enough to handle the entire tanks needs in case one fails.

+1 to all of the above advice - feeling comfortable with what the boxes say does not mean it's adequate filtration. If "up to 20gal" were accurate, no one here would be recommending otherwise. Boxes that fish tanks come in also have pictures of fish that don't belong in them.

Having filtration for at least double the size of your tank is important so there is enough bio media to house sufficient bacteria to handle the ammonia of a fully stocked tank.